Avalanche danger very high in Colorado backcountry

DENVER — Avalanche experts continue to warn against venturing into much of Colorado's backcountry because of the heavy top load of new snow.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says conditions are very dangerous in areas including the Front Range and Summit County mountains, the Aspen area and the San Juans. An advisory recommending against travel in or below avalanche terrain is in effect until Wednesday evening.

Six people have been killed in avalanches in the West since Sunday. They include a Highlands Ranch man swept away by a slide outside Keystone Ski Resort and a snowmobiler buried in a slide near Kebler Pass, both on Monday.

Up to 6 feet of snow fell in some remote mountain areas over several days, though accumulations of 2 to 4 feet were more common.

On Sunday, former Colorado Springs resident Ashleigh Cox died when she was caught in an avalanche in Utah. Read more here.